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Travel to Aruba for your next vacation and encounter consistently great weather all year round, island wide safety, unique scenic beauty combined with unmatched crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches.

Aruba is the perfect place to redefine relaxation, experience romantic moments; absorb and comprehend Aruba's rich culture; boost your energy and increase adrenaline levels by partaking in off and on shore activities.

Take a moment to brush up on the travel tips that will help you be more prepared for travel anywhere in Aruba.

ARUBA GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 193 sq km (74.5 sq miles). Population: 101,000 (UN official estimate 2000). Population Density: 523.3 per sq km. Capital: Oranjestad. Population: 20,046 (1991). Government: Dependency of the Netherlands. In 1986 Aruba separated from the rest of the Netherlands Antilles. Head of State: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented locally by Governor-General Fredis Refunjol since 2004. Head of Government: Prime Minister Nelson Oduber since 2001.

Language: The official language is Dutch. English and Spanish are also spoken. The islanders also speak Papiemento, which is a combination of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English and Indian languages.

Religion: 80 per cent of the population are Roman Catholic. There are also Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian and Jewish communities present.

Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz.

GEOGRAPHY: Aruba is the smallest island in the Leeward group of the Dutch Caribbean islands, which also include Bonaire and Curaçao. They are popularly known as the ABCs. As the westernmost island of the group, Aruba is the final link in the long Antillean chain, lying 20km (12.5 miles) off the Venezuelan coast. The island is 30km (19.6 miles) long and 9km (6 miles) across at its widest and has a flat landscape dominated by Jamanota Mountain (188m/617ft). The west and southwest coast, known as Palm Beach, boasts 11km (7 miles) of palm-fringed powder-white sands while, in complete contrast, the east coast has a desolate, windswept shoreline of jagged rocks carved into peculiar shapes by the pounding surf.

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ARUBA ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Entry Requirements

Passports are currently not required for U.S. and Canadian citizens. However, pending regulations may require the use of passports for
RE-ENTRY of U.S. citizens to the United States, tentatively scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2006. (Updated April 15, 2005, subject to change without notice.) Note: Your airline will require that the name on your ticket be the same as the name on your identifying document(s).

United States visitors must have ONE of the following in their possession upon arrival:

A valid US passport

OR:

US citizens born in the US must have a genuine original official State issued birth certificate with a raised seal AND a government issued (State or Federal) photo i.d. (i.e. a driver's license).
Birth certificates issued by churches or hospitals are NOT valid for entry into Aruba.

US citizens born outside the US must have a genuine original Certificate of Naturalization with a raised seal AND a government issued (State or Federal) photo i.d. (i.e. a driver's license);

US residents (non citizens) must have a re-entry permit or an alien registration card (Green Card).

A valid laissez-passer from the United Nations;

Voter's Registration Card or Social Security Card are NOT accepted.

Canadian visitors must have ONE of the following in their possession upon arrival:

A valid Canadian passport; Canadian citizens born in Canada must have a miniature birth certificate OR miniature baptismal certificate OR a miniature Proof of Canadian Citizenship; Canadian citizens born outside Canada must have either an original Certificate of Naturalization OR a miniature Certificate of Proof of Canadian Citizenship; Canadian residents must have a national passport together with a Canadian Immigration Identification Certificate (CIIC) with a landing stamp in the national passport or a Certificate of Identity.

Nationals from the following countries are allowed to stay in Aruba for a maximum of 3 months:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, U.S.A., United Kingdom, Venezuela.

Visitors from European Union member countries must have ONE of the following:

A valid passport OR A European Union Travel Card.

Children under the age of 18 travelling with BOTH parents must have the same last name as the parents and an original or certified copy of birth certificate. A photo ID is not required.

Children under the age of 18 not traveling with both parents must have an original birth certificate or a certified copy of birth certificate AND a notarized letter of permission signed by BOTH parents or a "Sole Custody" or "Father Unknown" document.

Children under the age of 18 traveling with ONE parent must have an original birth certificate or a certified copy of birth certificate AND a notarized letter of permission signed by the non-custodial parent or a "Sole Custody" or "Father Unknown" document.

A visa is required for citizens of the following countries:

Afganistan, Haiti, North Korea, Burma, Iran, Ghana, Peoples Republic of China, Cambodia, Iraq, Cuba, Libya, Syria, Dominican Republic, Mauritania Nigeria, Vietnam, Russian Federation and all other former Republics of the Soviet Union with the exception of Estonia, Latvia and
Lithuania.

Visa applications can be made through the representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Embassy or Consulate) or directly through the Department of Foreign Affairs in Aruba. The whole procedure may take up to four weeks and the Visa will be handed over to the applicant
bu the Dutch Embassy and/or Consular officials in the country where the application was made or by fax if the application was made through the Aruba Department of Foreign Affairs.

Applicant is responsible for applicable fees.

Travelers without the proper documentation will be denied boarding the aircraft by airport personnel. No exceptions! All travelers MUST be in possession of a round trip ticket or a document stating departure from Aruba on a specific date.

For situations not covered here, please contact the Aruba Tourism Authority. In the US, contact
1-800-toaruba. From outside the US, contact (in the US) 201-330-0800.

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GETTING AROUND ARUBA

Aruba's Queen Beatrix Airport is located on the southern coast approximately 6km (4mi) southeast of Oranjestad. Plenty of taxis are available for trips to the city or the resort area.

You'll need a car to explore the interior or northern windward coast. There are international and local car rental agencies; the bigger chains have offices at the airport and luxury hotels. If you want to drop your car off at the airport, insure that the agency you rent from has this facility or you'll be stuck with meeting an agent in the carpark - big hassle. Your home driving license is valid, though you must be at least 21 years old. Drive on the right-hand side of the road, and note that speed limits are signposted in km/h.

There's a frequent bus service between Malmok in the island's northwest and San Nicolas in the southeast. It passes through Oranjestad and the hotel beach strip, and runs right by the airport. This service and other local buses depart from Oranjestad's funky pastel bus station next to Royal Plaza. Taxis hang around the larger hotels and popular tourist spots. They're unmetered, but rates are regulated by the government and are calculated using a zone system. Since drivers are required to carry a rate card, you should be able to establish the exact fare beforehand. Taxis can also be hired hourly for sightseeing tours.

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ARUBA TRAVELING WITH PETS

No pets from South and Central America are allowed. Otherwise, dogs and cats are permitted entry to the island when accompanied by a valid rabies and health certificate issued by a recognized veterinarian. Pets are not allowed at most hotels, however, so please check in advance with your hotel to ask about its policy.

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ARUBA COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone Service - If you are calling Aruba from abroad, the area code and country code is (297).

Aruba offers several options to call internationally; you can use the land line, you will have to dial the outside code and then the number.

You can also call collect or use your credit card to place a phone call. You can place a collect call or credit card call at any of the blue phones located mostly at the lobbies of your hotel and also in the downtown area. The phones have instructions on how to place the calls.

It is highly advisable to purchase and use calling cards in order to make international phone calls. The calling cards can be obtained through out the island at gas stations, mini markets, supermarkets and at the various Setar teleshops. Cards, like the Ventaha usually vary between $5, $15, $20 and $30.

Cellular Phones and Pagers - Cellular roaming service and GSM capabilities are normal in Aruba. Please contact your local service provider about the features before traveling to Aruba.

Setar N.V. and Digicel have Kiosks and help desk at the arrival hall at the airport in order to provide more information.

Cellular phone rentals require that an individual show proper identification, such as a passport. A deposit is usually required.

Internet - The only Internet Service Provider in Aruba, the telephone company known as SETAR, provides dial-up access to non-residents and visitors. For more information please call SETAR Help Desk at 5834000 or visit website: http://123.setarnet.aw
Many hotels also provide dial-up capabilities for guests, either complimentary or for a small fee. Check with your selected hotel for more information.

There are several Internet cafe’s through out the island that provide access to the Internet for fee of about $5 an hour.

Aruba now also provides WIFI technology and has a number of hot spots throughout the island. Most of the hotel properties on the island now offer WIFI service at their properties, as well as many restaurants, Queen Beatrix Airport and other public places. For more information, please contact the resort you are staying at or Setar N.V. at (297) 5825151. You can also visit their website at http://www.wifi-aruba.com.

Local access numbers for America On-Line, Prodigy, CompuServe; AT&T etc. are not available in Aruba and are all considered as long distance calls to the US.

Telex and Telegrams - These can be sent via your hotel, or by the Government Telegraph and Radio Office at the Post Office Building in Oranjestad.


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ARUBA BUSINESS PROFILE

Economy: Between 1824 and 1916, the economy was based on gold mining. Subsequently, an oil refinery opened in the mid-1920s and, once among the largest in the world, was the most important commercial operation on the island until its closure in 1985. However, it was re-opened in 1990, under an agreement with an American operator to establish transhipment (mainly between Venezuela and the USA), storage and refining facilities. Oil has now reassumed its central position in the Aruban economy. In the meantime, a sizeable tourism sector grew up. More recently, Aruba has been joined by offshore service industries, including finance and data processing. The country’s free-port status, ship bunkering and repair facilities are the island’s other main sources of revenue. However, in June 2000, Aruba was identified by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – the world’s 30 largest economies – as one of 35 ’tax havens’ whose financial laws are believed to encourage large-scale tax evasion and money laundering. The government has since addressed most of the OECD’s concerns.
Light industry is limited to the production of some tobacco products, drinks and consumer goods. Agriculture is confined to small-scale activity, because of poor soil quality. Aruba is classed as an Associate Overseas Territory of the European Union. The most important trading partners are The Netherlands, USA, Colombia and Venezuela.

Business: Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700.

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ARUBA SOCIAL PROFILE

Food & Drink: Not much food is grown locally, but the variety in the local cuisine is extensive. Aruban specialities include stobà (lamb or goat stew), cala (bean fritters), pastechi (meat- or cheese-stuffed turnovers), ayacas (leaf-wrapped meat roll) and sopi di pisca (fish chowder). There is a very wide range of international cuisine and several of the more famous fast-food chains have premises on the island.

Nightlife: There is one drive-in and one indoor cinema screening current American, European and Latin American films. The highlight of Aruba’s nightlife, however, is the casinos, of which there are 11, open from 1100 until the early morning. It is possible to take a dinner cruise. There are several bars and discos in Oranjestad, as well as nightclubs offering revues and live music. Themed nights and limbo dancing are a local speciality.

Special Events: For a full list of special events contact the Aruba Tourism Authority (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Aruba in 2005:
Jan 1 51st Carnival Celebration, countrywide. Jan 7 Torch Parade (floats, costumes and lights). Feb 6 Grand 51st Carnival Parade (culmination of the annual carnival), Oranjestad. Feb 7 Carnival Monday/Old Mask Parade and Burning of King Momito. Mar 20 20th International Half-Marathon. Apr 24-30 15th Eagle International Bowling Tournament. May 25-30 Soul Beach Music Festival 2005. Jun 26 20th International Triathlon. Jul 1-16 16th Heineken Music Festival. Aug 13-16 International Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Oct 22-23 KLM Open Tournament. Dec Christmas Bazaars. Dec 5 St Nicolas Day.

Social Conventions: Much of the social activity takes place in hotels where the atmosphere will be informal, often American in feel. The islanders do not wear shorts in town though it is acceptable for visitors to do so. Bathing suits are strictly for beach or poolside. In the evenings people tend to dress up, especially when visiting the casinos. Jackets are not required for men, except for official government functions. Tipping: Hotels add a 15 per cent service charge to any food or beverage bill. Restaurants may add 15 per cent service to the bill; if not, 10 to 15 per cent is normal. Taxi fares do not include tips, but there may be charges for luggage and tips are well appreciated.

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ARUBA MEDICAL SERVICES

Hospital: Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital, L.G. Smith Blvd., Oranjestad, located near the hotel area. The hospital is modern and well equipped. Hemodialysis and oxygen tanks are available.
Phone (297) 5874300.

Doctors and dentists: All hotels have medical doctors on call. There are also excellent dental facilities. Appointments can be made through your hotel.

Air ambulance service: Please call Mr. Richard Rupert at (297) 829197.

Centro Medico, San Nicolas: Dr. Rudy Engelbrecht, Bernardstraat 75, San Nicolas. Consulting hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Emergency assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phone (297) 5848833.

Labco Medical and Homecare Service NV: Cabuyastraat 6A, Ponton.
Rental of wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, bedpans and other medical equipment. This service is available 24 hours a day, and delivery is free. Phone (297) 825541, fax (297) 5826567.

Posada Clinic Aruba: L.G. Smith Blvd 14.
This center for hemodialysis has eight stations equipped with modern Fresenius 2008H machines. Each station has a TV, VCR and telephone. The treatment schedule is flexible, and the staff is multilingual. One person is allowed to accompany the patient during treatment. Reservations must be made three months in advance. For more information, or to make reservations, please call the clinic at (297) 5820840, fax (297) 5835664.

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ARUBA CURRENCY/MONEY

The official currency of Aruba is the Aruban florin, which is divided into 100 cents. Silver coins are in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, one florin, 2 1/2 florins and 5 florins. The 50-cent "yotin" coin, which is square, is probably Aruba's best-known coin.

The florin fluctuates with the dollar on the world market. Current exchange rates are stable at Af. 1.77 to the U.S. dollar and Af. 1.34 to the Canadian dollar. U.S. and Canadian dollars are widely accepted in Aruba, and banks may exchange other foreign currency. Please call or stop by the individual banks for further information.

ATM's and Banking - Banking hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Most bank branches remain open during lunch. The Aruba Bank branch at the airport is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on official holidays.

ATM machines: Travelers with ATM cards bearing the CIRRUS or Plus System network logos can withdraw cash in Aruban florins, or some machines will now dispense U.S. dollars. Home bank accounts will be debited in dollars at a favorable exchange rate, and a service charge will apply. Before departing for Aruba, it's important to verify whether your PIN number will work in Aruba by calling your local bank.

ATM machines are available at many locations including:

ABN/AMRO Bank:

Caya G.F. Betico Croes 89 (main street, downtown)
Sun Plaza Building at L.G. Smith Blvd. 160
Port of Call Mall at L.G. Smith Blvd. 17
Seaport Market Place
Kong Hing on L.G. Smith Blvd.
Dr. Horacio Oduber Hospital in Eagle
Main street in San Nicolaas
Marinierskazerne in Savaneta.
Caribbean Mercantile Bank:

Caya G.F. Betico Croes 51 (main street, downtown)
L.G. Smith Blvd. 17
Seaport Village Mall
Royal Plaza Mall, on Coastal Gasstation Boulevard
Palm Beach 48, Noord; Zeppenfeldstraat 35, San Nicolaas
Santa Cruz 41, Santa Cruz.

Money Transfer - Money transfer: Western Union Money Transfer Service offers fast, secure and convenient money transfer service to more than 60 countries. For more information, please call (297) 58-24400.

Credit Card and Traveler's Check Representatives

American Express - S.E.L. Maduro & Sons, Rockefellerstr, 1, Oranjestad, Tel. 5823888, office hours 8:00 - 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Closed on official holidays. Services include personal check cashing, refunds, exchange and replacement of American Express Traveler checks, American Express Card replacement service, report of lost or stolen American Express Cards.

Visa/Master Card - Aruba Bank, Caribbean Mercantile Bank and Interbank. Services available to cardholders include cash advance, report of lost or stolen Visa/Master Card. Either passport or two other valid identifications required.

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ARUBA SHOPPING

The stores of Aruba are stocked with well-priced imported merchandise. Aruba is a "Shopper's Paradise", with perfume, liquor, linens, jewelry, watches, cameras, designer fashions, crystal and china among the luxury items available at excellent prices. Many stores also feature local handicrafts.

Most stores and boutiques are located in Oranjestad. There are also shops at the major hotels and at the airport. Other major shopping areas are Centro Commercial, in Noord, and the San Nicolas Shopping District.

Stores in the downtown areas are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, although some are closed for lunch between noon and 2 p.m. Shops in the malls and shopping centers are open from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some stores are open on Sundays and holidays when cruise ships are in port.

Aruba isn't actually a duty free port, however the duty is low enough that some excellent buys can be found here, especially on items such as jewelry, perfume, fashions and electronic equipment.

Citizens of the United States who have been out of the country for a minimum of 48 hours and who have not used their respective duty free allowance within 30 days are entitled to a $600.00 duty free tax exemption. Families traveling together can pool their exemptions, meaning a couple with two children can bring back $2400.00 worth of articles.

Canadian citizens who have been outside Canada for a minimum of 7 days are permitted a duty free exemption of $500.00 Canadian dollars. Citizens are also permitted a duty free exemption of $200.00 each time they are out of the country for more than 48 hours. Exemptions cannot be pooled with spouse and/or children.

The downtown harborfront area of Oranjestad bursts with modern colorful malls that produce a distinctive architechtural trademark. The major downtown shopping centers are the The Atrium, Port of Call Marketplace, Royal Plaza, Seaport Marketplace, Seaport Village Mall and the Strada Complex I and II.

Malls located in other areas are the Sun Plaza Mall and Alhambra Shopping Bazaar located near the low rise hotel area, the Palm Beach Shopping Center in the high rise hotel area and the Bubali Shopping Mall on Palm Beach Road in Bubali.

Many malls feature wide open-air concept ceilings that allow the sun to shine in. They are all brightly lit at night, giving the downtown core a glowing neon display in vivid colors. Some have first class nightly live entertainment and casinos.

There are many jewelry stores located in Oranjestad as well as in many of the major hotel lobbies. Specialties include gold, diamonds, tanzanite and many other precious stones as well as watches from many of the well known manufacturers.


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ARUBA TIPPING & TAXES

A service charge of 10% to 15% is usually included in your restaurant bill. This amount is divided between your wait person and other restaurant employees. If you received good service, a tip of 10% to 20% given directly to your waitperson is appropriate.

There is a 6% government room tax on all accommodations.

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ARUBA CLOTHING & ATTIRE

For the most part, casual, informal summer clothing is the rule in Aruba. Women may want to bring along a scarf or hat; the constant trade wind, while refreshing, is not compatible with a carefully arranged hair style.

The days of formal dress at shows, casinos and restaurants is gone, but if you plan to visit some of the island's elegant restaurants, night clubs or casinos, one or two dressier outfits would be appropriate. Jackets and ties for men are not required except at a very few restaurants. As for bathing suits, please remember that they're acceptable only on the beach, and not on the streets.

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ARUBA PEOPLE

The population of Aruba is of mixed descent and can trace its ancestry back to 40 different ethnic backgrounds from around the world. The native language is a creole dialect called Papiamento which is made up of elements of Dutch, Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, a number of different African languages, and Arawak Indian. Nearly everyone on the island is able to speak English and Spanish, in addition to Dutch, which is the official language of Aruba.

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ARUBA CHILDRENS PROGRAM

Aruba's resorts offer a variety of programs and facilities for children and their parents, including qualified babysitting services, kids' and teens' day camp programs, and water and land activities for the entire family.

Tira Koochi Park, a children's playground in Oranjestad, is open from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. The playground is located at Savaneta 338A, right behind Prome Paso School. For more information, please call (297) 5847761.

Kibaima Miniature Village and Park is a whole-family adventure that features miniature versions of typical Aruban houses and buildings, along with exotic birds, animals and tropical plants. There's also a separate playground for kids. For information, please call (297) 5860536.

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ARUBA SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

Watersports: Swimming is possible all year round, though the Atlantic side of the islands is often wild and treacherous. Swimmers are advised to ask their hotel about safety before swimming anywhere other than the main beaches, the best of which are on the southern coast, and include Palm Beach, Eagle Beach, Druif Beach, Baby Beach and Rodgers Bay. Every year in June, Aruba hosts the Hi-Winds Amateur World Challenge windsurfing tournament. For details, contact the Aruba Tourism Authority (see Contact Addresses section). Equipment hire and windsurfing lessons are widely available. Surfing is popular on the northern coast, particularly at Dos Playa and Andicouri beaches, which have the best waves, but surfers are warned to pay attention to the strong currents in the area. There is good parasailing to be had on Palm Beach. Aruba has over 40 dive sites with good visibility (often up to 30m/100ft) and a rich marine life (manta rays, barracuda and the green moray). Wall diving, coral reef diving and wreck diving are all available, with water temperatures averaging at around 28ºC (82ºF). Scuba diving qualifications can be taken on the island; further details are available from the Aruba Tourism Authority, who also publish a brochure, Discover Scuba in Aruba. Some of the best snorkelling spots are off the beaches of Arashi, Boca Grandi, Baby Beach and - most recommended of all - Hadikurari, though snorkelling is possible in many other places. Snorkelling gear can be hired from watersports centres at hotels, many of which organise combined sailing and snorkelling day trips. There is also scope for scuba diving. Water-skiing and jet-skiing are available, but restricted to certain areas. There is good deep-sea fishing in the area with a choice of half- or full-day trips. For information, enquire at hotels or at the waterfront in Oranjestad. Moonlight, sunset, dinner or dancing cruises are also available. There are a variety of underwater tours available in glass-bottomed boats or on the Atlantis Submarine (website: www.atlantisadventures.com). For those in search of more sedate marine-related activities, Aruba will provide a visitor with some wonderful fishing: these waters contain such gems as sailfish, white and blue marlin wahoo, shark, barracuda, amberjack and yellowfin tuna.

Golf: Tierra del Sol’s par-71 championship 18-hole course was designed by the Robert Trent Jones II Group, renowned for protecting the natural ecology of their sites. The course is located on the northwestern tip of the island, near the California Lighthouse and affords magnificent views. A 9-hole course is located at the Aruba Golf Club.

Other: Horse riding is a popular pastime and riding trips are available in the Cunucu (countryside) or along the coast. Cycling tours are popular, and bicycle hire is available throughout the island. The island also has a bowling alley, the Eagle Bowling Palace, located in Oranjestad. This is a modern 12-lane facility which includes a cocktail lounge and snack bar. A visit to Aruba's Butterfly Farm is one that will ensconce you in a tropical garden teeming with some of the most colourful and curious species of butterfly. An admission ticket permits repeated visits. And for those who feel the need for a little bit of pampering, there are five spas on the island where you can indulge such needs.

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ARUBA TIME ZONE

Aruba is on Atlantic Standard Time, which is the same as Eastern Daylight Savings Time but is effective year-round.
Aruba - Local Time Time = GMT-4


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